Weekend Preview (12/15)

Many high profile releases, some of them wide, most of them limited, are opening this weekend. The most hyped movie is probably the fantasy epic "Eragon," which promises to be the starting point in yet another LOTR-type series. The film stars Jeremy Irons, John Malkovich, and Edward Speleers as the young Dragonrider with a destiny.

"Charlotte's Web" may be the biggest competition for "Eragon" due to the immense popularity of the children's novel it is based on. Additionally, as a family picture that features Dakota Fanning, Julia Roberts, and a talking pig, it is bound to bring large crowds into theaters.

The Will Smithdrama "The Pursuit of Happyness" has the make of a potential Oscar candidate. Unfortunately, early reviews have been largely negative, criticizing the film's overly slick, sappy, and predictable storyline.

The latest collaboration between director Steven Soderbergh and superstar George Clooney, "The Good German," opens in limited release. Soderbergh's WWII-set homage to film noir has been praised for its style, but seems to lack an interesting story.

The buzz on the blockbuster musical "Dreamgirls," on the other hand, has been much more positive. The flick stars Jamie Foxx, Beyonce Knowles, and Eddie Murphy in a story of a three-girl musical group's rise to fame and the costs that eventually comes with it. Academy Award winner Bill Condon directs the movie, which opens in limited release.

David Lynch's latest fever dream, "Inland Empire," has, unsurprisingly, split the critics right down the middle as well. Some claim it to be a spectacular product of a wild imagination, while others see it as a vision of a madman, who has completely lost his marbles. Either side has a tough time telling what the movie is really about. With the limited release, Lynch hopes to see his star Laura Dern qualify for an Oscar nod.

Finally, the Iraq War themed "Home of the Brave" also opens in limited release, but that may only be a ploy to confuse the movie with other, Oscar caliber films. The idea of Jessica Biel and 50 Cent playing soldiers seems like reason enough to avoid it. Also, Samuel L. Jackson is in it.